Chapter 144: Residents of the Mansion (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 144: Residents of the Mansion (2)
“It really is an impossibly large house.”
“It’s huge every time I see it, isn't it?”
Marin and Yuria stood before the mansion, unable to hide their awe.
“You’ve arrived.”
“Rosier, you found the place well.”
“I got a bit turned over, but the mansion is so large it’s visible from a distance, so I was able to get here quickly.”
“That’s a relief. This is Erika; she’s a member of Lady Leah’s party.”
“Ah, h-hello. I’m Erika, and I specialize in healing magic.”
“Pleasure to meet you. I am Rosier, an Inquisitor.”
“Oh...!”
Erika fidgeted and cast her eyes downward in front of Rosier.
It wasn't that there was a formal difference in social status, but one couldn't ignore the weight of their ranks. Since Rosier’s rank was incredibly high, for someone in Erika’s position, it was like meeting a titan on par with a Saintess.
Besides, Inquisitors were generally known for having a screw loose somewhere and weren't the type of people one encountered often, which seemed to make her even more uncomfortable.
“Now that the introductions are mostly out of the way, shall we head inside?”
“Let’s. But... what on earth is that golem?”
“Ah, this fellow is an autonomous golem. His name is Roy.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“It talks? A golem?!”
Rika, who had only ever seen mud golems until now, looked at Roy and marveled at how advanced the Labyrinth City’s technology had become.
In reality, I had just stuffed a soul into it.
“Manager, everyone’s here. Could you open the door?”
“Ah, yes. I’ll open it right away. And here, please take the keys.”
“That’s quite a lot of keys.”
“Yes, yes. Every key to every locked door in the mansion is on this ring. With this, Mr. Sion, you are officially the master of the house.”
The land manager smiled as he handed over the keys. He looked strangely relieved, like a man who had finally managed to sell off some toxic inventory.
“Then let’s all go in and take a proper look around. First, let’s open the windows and air the place out.”
There was a lot of settled dust inside, so ventilation was the priority.
*
Perhaps because there were so many of us, the work went by quickly. The group checked for areas needing repair and pulled back the curtains to let the sunlight stream in.
Airing the place out and letting the sun bake the interior is very important. it gets rid of pests and prevents mold before it can start.
“It’s even bigger than I thought.”
“Tell me about it. You could fit over fifty people in here and still have room to spare.”
The house was so vast and spacious that one could probably start a mercenary company and use it as a headquarters.
The estate was largely divided into three buildings.
First, there was the massive main building. Beside it stood a three-story annex that looked like it could be used for various purposes. The previous owners seemed to have used the annex simply as a warehouse.
“This is a greenhouse. You could grow flowers even in winter.”
“It’s quite lovely.”
The greenhouse was overgrown with untended grass and flowers. There were more bugs than I expected, so I figured I’d have to hire a cleaning crew later to clear it all out.
“Let’s start the work tomorrow.”
“Understood. I’ll get in touch with the people I know.”
I decided to have the land manager arrange for carpenters and cleaners. He said he’d handle the contacts, so they should arrive tomorrow to get the mansion into shape.
Of course, because the rumors of it being a cursed mansion were so widespread, few people were willing to come, and we had to pay triple the standard rate. However, the mansion was too large for us to clean on our own.
“Then let’s disband for today. I expect we can move in by this weekend at the latest, so please have your things ready.”
“Wonderful. Hehehe.”
“I’ll have to pack my bags.”
Everyone looked satisfied. Rien, in particular, seemed overjoyed to be given the annex as her atelier.
Mages are the type of people who value their own private space immensely. For Rien, this was likely the first proper atelier she’d ever had, and her enthusiasm was palpable.
As long as we had a stable income, she’d probably spend all her time in that workshop researching and creating things. Rien was smart, so she’d produce results soon enough, and as the landlord, I just had to reap the benefits.
“Well then, I’ll be a bit busy tomorrow, so I’ll contact you all separately the day after.”
Tomorrow was the day I was to be summoned to a high-level meeting regarding Lafnel and the Underground City. So, meeting the group again the day after seemed right.
I sent Lady Leah and the rest of the party on their way.
Now, here was the real problem.
“Marin. You won't be able to handle this alone, right?”
“If I have to look after the greenhouse and the annex as well, I think it will be a bit difficult by myself.”
“Got it.”
I’d need to buy at least three more slaves.
Marin and two new slaves could manage the main building, and it would be good to have another slave to look after the greenhouse and the annex.
Once I enter the Labyrinth later, I probably won't be coming back up for a long time.
I needed to make proper arrangements before heading down. This time, I likely wouldn't return until the Underground City was pacified. It could be over a month. It was better to settle everything I could beforehand.
Once you're in the Labyrinth, it becomes difficult to get news from the surface.
“It would be nice to have a cook, too.”
“A cook, sir?”
“Yeah. If we have a cook, we won't have to buy food from restaurants all the time.”
To eat warm food in the Labyrinth without starting a fire, you usually have to buy prepared meals from restaurants. Having my own dedicated cook would make it easier to procure large quantities of food quickly.
“In that case, would you consider hiring my mother?”
“Your mother?”
“Yes. Her cooking is top-notch.”
While I was wondering where to hire a cook, Roy recommended his own mother.
“Come to think of it, you haven't met her yet.”
“Haha, that’s true. Why don't you go see her and make the offer?”
“Alright, I’ll keep that in mind.”
Maybe I should hire Roy’s mother as the cook. It would be easier for Roy to see her that way, too.
“Yuria, do you want to head home first?”
“Why? Where are you going?”
“I’m going to stop by Roy’s place for a bit.”
“Ah.”
I thought it might be a bad idea for a whole crowd of us to show up. It might be intimidating. Besides, Roy’s mother probably didn't know he had ended up like this yet, and I didn't think it was right to have Yuria and Marin standing there awkwardly.
“I’ll go home first then. Good luck.”
“Okay.”
And so, Roy and I headed toward the residential district in the western part of the Labyrinth City.
The situation here was better than the eastern red light district or the northern slums, but it didn't seem like a particularly wealthy neighborhood either. Since it was quite far from the affluent areas, the houses felt very old and worn down.
“Is it here?”
“Yes. This is the house. But...”
“It doesn't look like anyone’s home.”
I entered the house with Roy. The interior was quite dark, perhaps because it didn't get much sunlight and not a single candle was lit.
“I feel a presence in that room.”
The fact that someone wouldn't come out even when a stranger entered the house suggested they weren't in a good state. Roy and I hurried into the main bedroom.
“W-who is it...?”
“.....”
A middle-aged woman was struggling to sit up in bed. This must be Roy’s biological mother.
She looked completely drained of energy. She looked like someone who had lost her entire world. It was likely because Roy hadn't returned. Even though nearly two months had passed since the Labyrinth Eruption, there had been no news of her son, and she seemed to have withered away.
Roy stumbled toward the bed, toward his broken mother.
Because he was in a golem’s body, he couldn't shed tears. But just because he couldn't cry didn't mean he wasn't weeping. Roy was likely crying his heart out on the inside.
“Mom. It’s me.”
“W-what?! Excuse me...! You can't just barge into someone’s house like this...”
“It’s me, Roy. Roy.”
“What...? W-wait... this hunk of metal is talking...”
“I’m not sure how to explain this properly, but... ahem.”
I explained the situation step by step. How Roy had died in the Labyrinth, how I had found his soul with my ability, and how, after a successful rescue, I had possessed him into the golem’s body.
“Is that... really true...?”
“Yes. It’s hard to believe and shocking, but it’s the truth. Hey, Roy. Isn't there something only the two of you would know?”
“Uh... that time I tried to elope with the girl next door when I was a kid?”
“You little brat! It really is you, Roy!”
This guy had quite a colorful past. At Roy’s words, his mother immediately scrambled out of bed.
“You... so you really died? Truly? Oh, you absolute fool... look at what’s become of you!”
“Ow! Ow! I mean, it doesn't hurt, but! Mom, stop!”
“You damn child. I told you to just learn a trade and live a normal life. But you just had to go into the Labyrinth. You idiot. You moron. I told you you’d die! And you actually went and died? What about resurrection? Can't you be resurrected?”
“The thing is... there’s no body.”
“Oh... oh, my son... you stupid, foolish boy... oh...”
And then, the wailing began.
This was exactly why I hadn't brought Yuria and Marin. There was nothing good about others witnessing this scene. Yuria and Marin would have been flustered as well.
“Um, ma'am. Please, calm down for a moment...”
“Do I... do I look like I can be calm right now?! Oh... you poor thing... not even able to be resurrected...”
Living as a golem forever, or stealing someone else’s body to gain flesh. Those were the only two options left for Roy.
“Steal a body? Absolutely not! Just live like this. Be satisfied with a metal body. No. You’d steal someone else’s body just for your own sake? I won't have it.”
“Alright. But I won't be able to get married, is that okay?”
“Just having you alive is enough. For me... this is enough.”
I was glad the conversation ended well.
Afterward, I decided to hire Roy’s mother. Roy would be going into the Labyrinth with me, but if she came to our mansion, she’d be able to see her son often, so she readily agreed.
“Spend some time with your mother today. I’m going to head to the slave shop.”
“Will you be alright without an escort?”
“I’ll be fine.”
The heretics had been mostly wiped out. There shouldn't be anyone looking to mess with me. The security in the Labyrinth City wasn't exactly great, but there weren't many people bold enough to commit crimes against an adventurer.
“It’s been a while since I was in this neighborhood.”
I headed toward the black market. Human slaves were fine, but after working with Marin, I felt that slaves who had suffered the Curse of Transformation would be better.
Just look at Marin. She was top-tier at dust removal and didn't even require food costs. Wasn't she a top-tier slave among slaves?
“It’s been a while.”
“Gah! You scoundrel! You’re back again?!”
This was the same shop where I had purchased Olivia and Marin. I had bought both of them at incredibly low prices by haggling. Perhaps that was why the shopkeeper recoiled in horror the moment he saw me.
“My, my. Isn't it a bit embarrassing to react like that to a customer?”
“You damn...! No! No discounts today!”
“We’ll have to see about that.”
“You little...!”
“Honestly, this is my third visit. At this point, I’m a regular. You should treat me well.”
“You pervert with weird tastes...”
“I don't buy them as sex slaves! Anyway, enough of that. Show me what you’ve got. I think I’ll be buying quite a few today.”
“What? Quite a few?”
“Yes. At least three.”
“...Follow me for now.”
His voice softened slightly when I said I’d buy three or more. I followed the slave trader down into the basement.